Nobel Conference Lecture - The Glymphatic SystemOctober 2 at 10–10:45 a.m.

Nobel Conference Fifth Lecture

The Glymphatic System

Maiken Nedergaard
Co-Director of the Department of Neurology, Center for Translational Neuromedicine (SMD) at the University of Rochester

We have recently described a macroscopic pathway in the central nervous system—the glymphatic system that facilitates the clearance of interstitial waste products from neuronal metabolism. Glymphatic clearance of macromolecules is driven by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that flows in along para-arterial spaces and through the brain parenchyma via support from astroglial aquaporin-4 water channels. The glymphatic circulation constitutes a complete anatomical pathway; para-arterial CSF exchanges with the interstitial fluid, solutes collect along para-venous spaces, then drain into the vessels of the lymphatic system for ultimate excretion from the kidney or degradation in the liver. The glymphatic system is only active during sleep. As such, this circulation represents a novel and unexplored pathway for understanding the biological necessity for sleep.